NAZISM AND THE RISE OF HITLER
Q.1 Describe the problems faced by Weimar Republic.
A , Humiliating treaty of Versailles
Weimar republic was not received well by its own people largely because of the terms it was
forced to accept after Germanys defeat at the end of the First World War. The peace treaty at
Versailles with the allies was a harsh and humiliating peace. Republic was being made to pay
for the signs of the old empire; the republic carried the burden of war guilt and national
humiliation and was financially crippled by being forced to pay compensation.
B, Political Radicalism
The birth of Weimar republic coincided with the revolutionary uprising of the Spartacist
League. The political atmosphere in Berlin was charged with demand for Soviet style of
governance. The Weimar Republic crushed the uprising. The Spartacist later founded the
communist party of Germany. Communists and socialists henceforth became irrecocilable
enemies.
C, Economic Crisis
Germany had fought the war largely on loans and had to pay the war reparations in gold. These
depleted gold reserves at a time resources were scarce. It printed paper currency recklessly
with too much printed money in circulation, the value of the German mark fell. As the value of
the mark collapsed, prices of goods soared. This crisis came to be known as hyperinflation.
D, Unemployment
By 1932, industrial production was reduced to 40 percent. Workers lost their jobs or were paid
reduced wages. The number of unemployed increased up to 6million.As jobs disappeared, the
youth took to criminal activities and total despair became commonplace.
E Defects of Weimar republic
a. politically too Weimar republic was fragile. The Weimar constitution had
some inherent defects, which made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.
b.One was proportional representation. This made achieving a majority by any
one party a near impossible task, leading to a rule by coalitions.
c, Another defect was article 48, which gave the President the powers to impose
emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree.
2, Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930.
*Great depression
It was during the great depression that Nazism became a mass movement. After 1929, banks
collapsed and business shut down workers lost their jobs and the middle classes were
threatened with destitution. In such a situation, Nazi propaganda stirred hopes of a better
future.
, *Personality of Hitler
Hitler was a powerful speaker, He promised to build a strong nation, undo the injustice of the
Versailles treaty and restore the dignity of the German people. He promised employment for
those looking for work and a secure future for the youth. He promised to weed out all foreign
influences and resist all foreign conspiracies against Germany.
*New style of politics
Hitler devised a new style of politics, he understood the significance of rituals and spectacle in
mass mobilisation, Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings to demonstrate the support
for Hitler and install a sense of unity among the people. The red banners with the swastika, and
the ritualised rounds of applause after the speech were all part of this spectacle of power.
*Loss of faith in democracy
There were many political parties in Germany but they failed to form a government. So the
period from 1919-1933 was a period of strives. As a result, Weimar republic was weakened.
People lost confidence in the democratic parliamentary system, which seemed to offer no
solution.
3. What are the peculiar features of Nazi thinking?
*Nazi ideologies were synonymous with Hitlers world view. Jews came to be regarded as an
anti race, the arch enemies of the Aryans. The Nazi argument was simple; the strongest race
would survive and weak ones would perish .The Aryan race was the finest .It had to retain its
purity, become stronger and dominate the world.
*Hitlers ideology was related to the geopolitical concept of Lebensram, or living space. He
believed that territories had to be acquired for settlement. it would also enhance the material
resources and power of the German Nation.
* Nazis wanted only a society of pure and healthy Nordic Aryans. They alone were
considered desirable. Jews were not only the community classified undesirable. Many
Gypsies and blacks living in Nazi Germany were considered as ‘racial inferiors. Even
Russians and Poles were considered subhuman.
*Hitler fanatically interested in youth of the country. He felt that strong Nazi society could be
established only by teaching children Nazi ideology. This required a control over the child both
outside and inside the school.
*In 1933 Hitler said, in my state the mother is the most important citizen .But in Nazi
Germany all mothers were not treated equally. Women who bore racially undesirable children
were punished and those who produced racially desirable children were awarded .To encourage
women to produce many children, honour crosses were awarded. A bronze cross was given for
women who have four children, silver for six and gold for eight or more.
Q.1 Describe the problems faced by Weimar Republic.
A , Humiliating treaty of Versailles
Weimar republic was not received well by its own people largely because of the terms it was
forced to accept after Germanys defeat at the end of the First World War. The peace treaty at
Versailles with the allies was a harsh and humiliating peace. Republic was being made to pay
for the signs of the old empire; the republic carried the burden of war guilt and national
humiliation and was financially crippled by being forced to pay compensation.
B, Political Radicalism
The birth of Weimar republic coincided with the revolutionary uprising of the Spartacist
League. The political atmosphere in Berlin was charged with demand for Soviet style of
governance. The Weimar Republic crushed the uprising. The Spartacist later founded the
communist party of Germany. Communists and socialists henceforth became irrecocilable
enemies.
C, Economic Crisis
Germany had fought the war largely on loans and had to pay the war reparations in gold. These
depleted gold reserves at a time resources were scarce. It printed paper currency recklessly
with too much printed money in circulation, the value of the German mark fell. As the value of
the mark collapsed, prices of goods soared. This crisis came to be known as hyperinflation.
D, Unemployment
By 1932, industrial production was reduced to 40 percent. Workers lost their jobs or were paid
reduced wages. The number of unemployed increased up to 6million.As jobs disappeared, the
youth took to criminal activities and total despair became commonplace.
E Defects of Weimar republic
a. politically too Weimar republic was fragile. The Weimar constitution had
some inherent defects, which made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.
b.One was proportional representation. This made achieving a majority by any
one party a near impossible task, leading to a rule by coalitions.
c, Another defect was article 48, which gave the President the powers to impose
emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree.
2, Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930.
*Great depression
It was during the great depression that Nazism became a mass movement. After 1929, banks
collapsed and business shut down workers lost their jobs and the middle classes were
threatened with destitution. In such a situation, Nazi propaganda stirred hopes of a better
future.
, *Personality of Hitler
Hitler was a powerful speaker, He promised to build a strong nation, undo the injustice of the
Versailles treaty and restore the dignity of the German people. He promised employment for
those looking for work and a secure future for the youth. He promised to weed out all foreign
influences and resist all foreign conspiracies against Germany.
*New style of politics
Hitler devised a new style of politics, he understood the significance of rituals and spectacle in
mass mobilisation, Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings to demonstrate the support
for Hitler and install a sense of unity among the people. The red banners with the swastika, and
the ritualised rounds of applause after the speech were all part of this spectacle of power.
*Loss of faith in democracy
There were many political parties in Germany but they failed to form a government. So the
period from 1919-1933 was a period of strives. As a result, Weimar republic was weakened.
People lost confidence in the democratic parliamentary system, which seemed to offer no
solution.
3. What are the peculiar features of Nazi thinking?
*Nazi ideologies were synonymous with Hitlers world view. Jews came to be regarded as an
anti race, the arch enemies of the Aryans. The Nazi argument was simple; the strongest race
would survive and weak ones would perish .The Aryan race was the finest .It had to retain its
purity, become stronger and dominate the world.
*Hitlers ideology was related to the geopolitical concept of Lebensram, or living space. He
believed that territories had to be acquired for settlement. it would also enhance the material
resources and power of the German Nation.
* Nazis wanted only a society of pure and healthy Nordic Aryans. They alone were
considered desirable. Jews were not only the community classified undesirable. Many
Gypsies and blacks living in Nazi Germany were considered as ‘racial inferiors. Even
Russians and Poles were considered subhuman.
*Hitler fanatically interested in youth of the country. He felt that strong Nazi society could be
established only by teaching children Nazi ideology. This required a control over the child both
outside and inside the school.
*In 1933 Hitler said, in my state the mother is the most important citizen .But in Nazi
Germany all mothers were not treated equally. Women who bore racially undesirable children
were punished and those who produced racially desirable children were awarded .To encourage
women to produce many children, honour crosses were awarded. A bronze cross was given for
women who have four children, silver for six and gold for eight or more.
